The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-02-10
From tie Southern Leader (Colored.)
Clevelan nd and tIae Newro.

We have reached point in the political his
tory Of the negro at which he can excIaim
" Save me from my friends.' With Matthew'S
as Democrat, we have but little political SYM
pathy but with Matthews as u colOred man. we
are in the same boat his lot is our lot q IA his
destiny, be II tor veal or woe. Bound together
by ties OF complexion, race and condition. We
are coiored Americans iFst snd pariisans AFTER
wards. II j. universally admitted that Matthews
has good character and that he is emnentv
qualified to fiil the office Of Recorder or Deeds.
and more 50, from a legal and clerical point Than
was Frederick Douglass With this fact patent
to all Matthews should have been confirmed
when his name was first sent into the Senate.
Ii the Republican Senators suppose that The
rejection Of Matthews VIII have the effect OF de-
terring other cnlored men, from acting with the
DEMOCRATIC party, they are greatly miataken, for
II win havet the oppc site effect. sThe sction of
the Republican Senators disoloses q eloyen foot
which will put all thinking and intelligent col
ored men On their met,le. In plain words it
means that the Republican party, in fts present
degenerate state, and led by lis machine manag-
ers fs against the negro unless he follows blindv
in that party's wake. Reasoniug from this hy-
pothesis, the Republican party intended merely
10 transfer the slave into q Republican voter.
and not irtp an absolute free man.. Conse.
quently, the Republican Senators who voled
against Matthew'S political ifeedom, showed a
disposition 10 remand him and all negroes who
refuse to act with the Republican party back 10
their former condition. If you are opposed to
the absolute political freedom OF the rasro. Won
favor his franchisemept As a logical sequence
According 10 this theory, the negro Wa made
iree simply on t6e eo1di,on that hs should ior-
plain facts In view, it b not easy to- award any
credit to the sGrand Old Party =. fer enancipat-
ing the slaves
The Republican Senators have made /. fatal
mstake; one tlst viii divide Abe eo,ersd vote
and break down the political color line more
effectively than any other agency now known.
Before the war, the negro was aot6sse 70 20 be-
yond the limits OF his masters possesiops; and
since the war the negro has not been free 10 90
beyond The limits Of the Repubicas aparty. II
this transitional state of bondage is TO be perpet
uased, then Linc0ln's Emancipation Proclama-
tion vas miserable mnckesypsnl twenty years
OF liberty b bot delusive dream. ;,
when afs We TO become absolutely freef This
mepactpg Republican cloyess: iheef ahss q far
reaching meaning Instead Of . prop for our
cnizeuship, the HepQbsicsa party Aow threatens
our individual rights - men and cjsise@ This
iisesf with peculiar Interest AID Rrusiy 10 evcry
thlnking col0sed man In ihs eeuAtry. The
case, by the Great human principle involved In H.
ID transferred from DfAtthcwsi and tie Repuhli.
can Senaiors - the ooloFed people e. large and
me ;Ss Hspun''c.n n - N.sioo.l orgsnlzasiOn. II
their party In ihia matter, The seefo b placsd
thereby between two political hres-sbe burden
Demnesatlc element whsch h upposs6 % Cjeve-
l.nd and 1asahswA end ~ busaaas napublicnn
esemenl whicA refuses 10 eoa1sm uatiksws 70
e s.posssss go anply bse4sss {. - tsea
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